The Rock Ethics Institute supports the integration of ethical literacy into undergraduate research in order to prepare students for careers and lives as ethical leaders. We recognize outstanding student accomplishments by awarding the Undergraduate Prize in Moral Inquiry to University Park undergraduates during the annual Undergraduate Research Exhibition. Up to two prizes of $500 are awarded annually.

This award recognizes exemplary achievement in designing and completing research projects in any discipline that address current ethical questions.

Examples include research that:

• • addresses ethical uses and limitations of emerging technologies;
  • investigates issues of justice, fairness, or integrity in public policy, politics, the media, or criminal justice
  • explores ethical concerns in responding to climate change or other environmental challenges;
  • examines moral psychology and the development of ethical character;
  • clarifies fundamental ethical principles or ethical conflicts through philosophy, literature, the arts, historical scholarship, or cultural analysis;
  • makes visible, expresses, or responds to ethical challenges through design or artistic media;
  • brings the research questions and methods of any discipline, or a combination of disciplines, to bear on ethical issues confronting humanity.

Our judging rubric evaluates students on the following categories:

• • Identification and explanation of the ethical considerations addressed by the project and their significance
  • Formulation of clear research objectives and use of appropriate methods to achieve them
  • Integration of ethical goals into research design
  • Quality of poster, oral presentation, or performance

Format and Submission:

To be eligible for the Undergraduate Prize in Moral Inquiry, students must register and submit materials for the Undergraduate Research Exhibition at University Park. More details are available at https://urfm.psu.edu/programs/undergraduate-exhibition.

In addition, please submit the following:

• • A written explanation of the ethical issues addressed by the project and how they are addressed, and a reflection on the significance of the findings
  • Your analysis should be submitted as a PDF file.
  • The length should be between 500–750 words.
  • Cite relevant literature or resources to support your ethical explanation. Citations do not count toward word count.
  • Adhere to the formatting and citation styles typical in your discipline

For questions about this award or the submission process, please contact rockethics@psu.edu.